Story Title: Death and Misery

Once upon a time, there was a small boy who was poor that people called him Misery. He lived in Mauritius and was an orphan.

One day Misery met a tired nomad. Seeing his pitiful state, Misery invited him in his straw-house and offered him all that he had to eat. Then Misery told him about his poverty and the difficulties he had faced in life. The man, touched by his generosity and words, said, "You are poor but generous. l'll give you a plot of ground that i have and you can do whatever you want with it."

Misery thanked him profusely and the next day itself, Misery started to plant trees. Those same trees afterwards gave the best fruits of Mauritius. Misery was very happy, thinking that he would sell them and earned money. But Alas! One day when Misery was going to pick the fruits, the children of the locality destroyed the fruits. Misery begged them not to do so, but they turned a deaf ear to him and their parents did want to pay for the loss incurred by Misery. As such, the latter was hopeless and sad.

But one day a strange man came to Misery's house, and the latter invited him to come inside and offered him what he had. Again, Misery told his sorrows to this man. The strange man did no say much, but listened to Misery carefully. Before going the man told him, "Listen carefully to what i am going to tell you and do not ask me anything. When the children will come, you will say, WILL BE GLUED!

I am telling you again do not ask me any questions. All that i can say is that they would not come gain. Remember these words also, WILL BE UNGLUED! You will know when to use them." And of course Misery did not ask any question. However, he told the man that he hoped to see him soon but the latter replied that he would not ever see him again, but that he would meet his brother some day. Then, the man went away.

Some days later, the children came again and Misery, without losing time, made use of the words "WILL BE GLUED" and the children started to stick to the trees and would not move at all. Even when the children's parents threatened and begged Misery, he did not budge. Axes, knives were useless. So the parents were forced to pay Misery until the last cent. Then the latter said, "WILL BE UNGLUED!"

As soon as these words were uttered, the children could move again. The parents took them and went home without returning.

Many years elapsed where Misery became a young man then an old man. Often, he thought about the strange man's brother and wondered whether he would meet him. But one day, the one whom he did not expect came to his house. He was also a strange man like his brother and was dressed in black. He told Misery that his brother asked him to come and told him that he had to take him with him because his time had come. Misery asked him about his identity and where he would take him. The man replied in a severe voice, " I am DEATH!" Misery said," Ok!

Give him time to prepare myself. You can pick up some fruits if you want, they are delicious."

As soon as death started picking the fruits Misery said, WILL BE GLUED!" Of course Death could not move and shouted,"Free me! But Misery ignored him. Death begged him and asked him what he could do for him. Then Misery said, "Promise me that you will never come to take me." Death could not argue any more and was compelled to accept. Then, Misery said, "WILL BE UNGLUED! Death could move again and did not come to take Misery again.

That is why until now every Mauritian knows Misery. He will continue to exit until Death exists, that is FOREVER.